| Abstrakt: |
The Republic of Georgia is developing and implementing a biosafety program using international standards and best practices to tailor the program to Georgian laboratories and research facilities that are involved with Extremely Dangerous Pathogens (EDPs). Because the Georgian Biosafety Officer (BSO) plays a critical role in this effort, a Biosafety Officer Symposium was held for Georgian BSOs for the first time in October 2011 to provide a forum for learning, communicating, planning, mentoring, and networking. Participants included the Biosafety Officers, their alternates, and Lab Directors from laboratories working with EDPs. Many challenges were overcome to host this Symposium. First, approval was obtained from several different Georgian ministries. Interest and attendance at the Symposium were dependent upon the approval of these ministries to send BSOs to the 5-day Symposium. Further, human, veterinary, and research institutes had to work together to make this successful, and all had to be willing to participate and share experiences, issues, and problems with their colleagues. The Symposium was structured (lectures, refresher training sessions, BSO presentations, practical demonstrations, tabletop exercises and simulations, discussions) to help the BSOs identify issues and arrive at solutions relevant to their institutions. The BSO Symposium provided mentoring opportunities to the BSOs as they assume leadership responsibilities for biosafety in Georgia. The BSO Symposium also gave improved direction and focus to Battelle's Threat Agent Detection and Response (B-TADR) Biosafety & Biosecurity (BS&S) Team to improve relevant training and mentoring activities, especially in the form of field and laboratory practical exercises. The BSO Symposium will be an annual event. |
